James River Batteau

Amherst County · dedicated 1993 · Rte. 29, 100 feet south of intersection with 761

Near here lived Anthony and Benjamin Rucker, inventors of the James River batteau, which superseded the double dugout canoe and rolling road for transporting tobacco hogsheads. These long (about 50 or 60 feet), double-ended vessels dominated the commercial traffic on the James River and other Southern upland waterways between the 1770s and 1840s. A dispute arose in 1821 when the Rucker brothers' heirs sought to patent the design. A letter from Thomas Jefferson testifying to his presence at the first batteau's launch resolved the matter in the Ruckers's favor. Error: Note that the last sentence on the marker is incorrect, and should read: A letter from Thomas Jefferson testifying to his presence at the first batteau's launch resolved the matter in the Ruckers' favor.

David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

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under a mile from where William Gabby lived in the 1760s

what this marker records spans 1777 to 1789, overlapping William Gabby's years here

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James River Batteau

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